UPDATED October 26, 2023:  District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer reports that TIA LARAE DYNE has been taken into custody.  Following Tuesday's arrest of Catherine Morrison and the issuance of arrest warrants for Tia Dyne on two criminal complaints for felony drug crimes in the Kane area, tips were provided to the District Attorney's Office that alerted law enforcement to possible locations of Dyne.  A request was made to the Pennsylvania State Police - Ridgway barracks to attempt contact at a residence in Elk County based on one of the tips.  The State Police learned that Dyne was at a location in Warren County.  An Officer with the McKean County Drug Task Force made contact with Dyne in Warren and Dyne was taken into custody without incident.  

She was transported to Magisterial District Judge David Engman's court for arraignment.  Bail was set at $200,000 cash ($100,000 on each case) and she was remanded to the McKean County Jail awaiting a central court appearance.   

District Attorney Vettenburg-Shaffer thanks the public for providing tips leading to Dyne's location.

 Warrant Details

• Warrant Type: Criminal
• Date Issued: Tuesday October 24th, 2023
• Issuing Authority: Magisterial District Judge David Engman
• Holding Department: McKean County Detectives
• Docket Number: MJ-48304-CR-133-2023 and MJ-48304-CR-134-2023

A warrant had been issued for the arrest of Tia Dyne, of Kane. 

DYNE is charged with 3 counts Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance (fentanyl and methamphetamine)- Felonies; 3 counts Possession of a Controlled Substance- Misdemeanors; 2 counts of Criminal Use of a Communication Facility – Felony 3; and 3 counts Conspiracy to Deliver Controlled Substances – Felonies. 

ORIGINAL PRESS RELEASE:

KANE WOMAN CHARGED WITH 11 DRUG-RELATED FELONIES BY MCKEAN COUNTY DETECTIVES – A SECOND WOMAN WANTED ON FELONY WARRANTS

(KANE, Pennsylvania, October 25, 2023): District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer reports that criminal complaints have been filed against two Kane women for drug crimes – one woman has been arrested and another one is wanted by police pursuant to an arrest warrant that was issued last evening.  The charges filed on October 24^th were the culmination of a month-long investigation by the McKean County Detectives and members of the McKean County Drug Task Force into fentanyl trafficking in the Kane area. 

Catherine Morrison, aka Cat Berry, and Tia Dyne were both charged with delivery of narcotics throughout the Kane area.  An arrest warrant has been issued for Dyne.  Morrison was taken into custody.

The criminal complaint filed against MORRISON indicates that Chief County Detective Ryan D. Yingling a received a tip that she was the primary fentanyl dealer in the Kane area.  Intelligence was developed and he, along with other members of the McKean County Drug Task Force, set up surveillance to observe Morrison commit sales of controlled substances to a cooperating person. Detective Mark Deluca, who was overseeing surveillance, requested other officers to do surveillance on Morrison’s residence. Morrison is accused of communicating with a known individual in Kane for the purpose of setting up deliveries of controlled substances and then delivering those substances. The complaint alleges Morrison delivered a heroin/fentanyl mixture on two occasions and methamphetamine on another occasion – all within the Kane area.  On October 24, 2023, after surveillance indicated Morrison had committed a delivery of fentanyl/heroin mixture in a parking lot in Kane, Detectives initiated a traffic stop on Fraley Street.  Detective Yingling requested Task Force Officer/Sgt. Seth Shephard and K9 Duke to come to the car.  K9 Duke, trained to alert on the odor of controlled substances, indicated to the presence of a controlled substance.  A search warrant was obtained and a subsequent search of the car yielded an additional 100 bags of suspected heroin/fentanyl that was packaged for sale and $2500 cash. Yingling obtained a second search warrant. McKean County Detective K9s LG and Rigby along with handlers Bob Rinfrette and Task Force Officer Dakota Eaton searched the residence on Cherry Street.  Additional narcotics, cash and baggies commonly used to package narcotics were found by Detectives and Task Force Officers on the premises.

The complaint alleges that Morrison has connections to suppliers in Pittsburgh and would then bring the fentanyl back to the Kane area to sell.   

Morrison was charged with 4 counts Delivery/Possession with Intent to Deliver Controlled Substances (heroin/fentanyl/methamphetamine) – Felonies; 3 counts Conspiracy Possession with Intent to Deliver/Delivery – Felonies;  Dealing in Unlawful Proceeds – Felony 1; 3 counts Criminal Use of a Communication Facility – Felony 3; and 4 counts Possession of a Controlled Substance - Misdemeanors.

Morrison was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge David Engman last evening and he set bail at $400,000.  She was remanded to the McKean County Jail.

ANOTHER KANE WOMAN WANTED ON FELONY WARRANTS

Tia Dyne, also of Kane, was charged by two separate complaints with drug crimes.  The complaints charge her with delivering fentanyl and/or methamphetamine in the Kane area on two occasions.  Dyne is charged with 3 counts Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance (fentanyl and methamphetamine)- Felonies; 3 counts Possession of a Controlled Substance- Misdemeanors; 2 counts of Criminal Use of a Communication Facility – Felony 3; and 3 counts Conspiracy to Deliver Controlled Substances – Felonies. 

The investigation into drug trafficking of fentanyl in the Kane area led the Task Force Detectives to Dyne who was placed under surveillance by officers.  Dyne is charged with communicating with a known person in Kane for the purpose of arranging narcotic sales and then delivering fentanyl on one occasion and fentanyl and methamphetamine on another occasion in exchange for $680.

Detectives requested an arrest warrant for Dyne. 

The District Attorney’s Office, McKean County Detectives, McKean County Drug Task Force, McKean County Sheriff’s Department, McKean County Detective K9s and handlers, City of Bradford K9 and handler, and Kane Borough Police assisted in the arrest and subsequent searches.

District Attorney Vettenburg-Shaffer: “Drug tips can come from any person who suspects illegal activity.  The intelligence in this case was initiated by two business owners in Kane who have been ongoing partners with the McKean County Detectives.  They were concerned about suspicious activity in their community and reported that to the Chief County Detective.  To protect their privacy, I will not identify them but they know who they are and the District Attorney’s Office personally thanks them.  Thank you both.  I express my gratitude to them for their efforts in trying to rid their community of harmful substances.  A very tiny amount of fentanyl can be deadly and I also thank the Officers’ relentless dedication in removing this drug from the community.”

Chief County Detective Ryan D. Yingling was the lead investigator and filed the charges against both women.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Tia Dyne is urged to contact 911.

If you suspect illegal drug activity, please contact the McKean County Drug Task Force at (814)887-3312 or McKeanDA.org.